WILMINGTON — Virginia Mae Kelly, 89, of Wilmington, NC, died peacefully on February 12, 2026.
She was born in Franklin, Minnesota in 1936 to Milton and Gertrude Kelly and spent her early childhood years there, later moving with the family to Southern California.
Virginia attended St. Olaf College and the Chouinard Art Institute, where she nurtured her artistic talents. She went on to build a career as a fashion designer and textile artist, drawing inspiration from her extensive travels and her deep appreciation for beautiful landscapes and traditional textiles from cultures around the world.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents Milton and Gertrude Kelly, her brothers Kenneth Kelly and Milton David Kelly, her sister Ruth Hustad, and her granddaughter Amber Byrd.
She is survived by her sisters Genevieve (David) Quarberg and Joan Kelly; her children Heather Braun and Mattias (Lisa) MacDowell; her grandchildren Amanda (Christopher) Knowlton, Cody Braun, Caroline (Blake) Raczenski, Hannah Braun, and Micah MacDowell; and three great-grandchildren.
